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My love for classic telenovelas had me hooked on this remake. My husband and I are huge fans, glued to the Telenovela Channel. So after loving Marian Rivera's Marimar (2007), I dove into the Erich Gonzales version of Maria la del Barrio. Because that Thalia's original version captivated me, especially how cleverly they handled "Nandito", Thalia's son's storyline. The filmmakers were brilliant in making Thalia and Fernando Colunga look like they were in their mid-forties, even though the "Nandito" actor Osvaldo Benavides was only few years younger than them in real life. Plus, Soraya was one of the most iconic telenovela villains ever! So I was so excited to see how this Filipino version would measure up.

Unfortunately this remake was a little bit of disappointing, sure it tries to capture a distinctly Filipino feel, unfortunately it fell into the usual teleserye tropes. It felt like they just copied the Cinderella-style revenge formula that made the 2007 Marimar such a hit and turned Marian Rivera into a superstar. The cast did a great job, but I think Erich Gonzales deserved a more magnetic leading man. Enchong Dee just didn't have the same powerful presence as Colunga, he's not manly enough. Still, Gonzales was amazing in this version. Her transformation from sweet and innocent to fiercely vengeful was incredible. The show was good, but don't expect anything new, it's basically just a rehash of the 2007 Marimar. But I think they omitted the original version's twists and turns because they were too controversial for national Filipino television, Soraya, in the original, was exceptionally dark and too villainous!

As I near the end of Encantadia (2005), I've come to appreciate just how influential it was, spawning two successful sequels that built upon its massive legacy. (Let's be real, if you grew up in the Philippines and don't know who the Sang'gres are, are you even a human?) That's how huge this series was back then! Even now, it remains one of the most quotable and widely parodied shows.

Watching the sequel left me in awe, particularly because of Suzette Doctolero's masterful writing. The way she seamlessly wove the story without any inconsistencies or unresolved threads from the original Encantadia was a brilliant move. You can't deny her talent-honestly, she should have her own books and write more Encantadia stories!

Etheria serves as both a prequel and sequel to the original. Sure, it once again delves into the Sang'gres' unbreakable bond as they face a rising darkness only they can defeat. But unlike the 2005 version, which focused heavily on Pirena's struggle for the Lirean crown, this one fully embraces the power of sisterhood!

The performances are exceptional, the cinematography is stunning, and if you're a teacher looking for a series to introduce your students to mythology, history, and balarila (deeper Filipino language), this is a must-watch! But of course you should watch the first Enca before watching Etheria and the other final sequel.

Bea Alonzo and Carla Abellana delivered their finest performances in this series, and the casting director made an excellent decision in pairing them as friends, as their on-screen chemistry was absolutely flawless. Okay! So, the first few seasons were directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Zig Dulay before the show transitioned to a different creative team. From then on, the storyline took an unexpected turn, introducing numerous twists and character arcs, many of which felt unnecessary! Hope he didn't left this baby of his.

One of the show's biggest drawbacks too was its poor CGI, bad wigs, particularly the controversial green screen finale (I hope they fix this before the Netflix rerun). Throughout the series, several visual effects fell short, from poorly photoshopped old photographs to unrealistic CGI depictions of fire, blood, and flying crows.

Another major flaw in this series was Jeric Gonzales' lackluster performance, I mean, More workshops please? Huhu. On the other hand, Jean Garcia was a revelation, embodying a villain reminiscent of Claudia Buenavista, the kind you absolutely love to hate. Her performance was mesmerizing, capturing the intensity of a K-drama antagonists. She was undeniably the show's standout, elevating every scene she was in.